This book investigates the efficacy of international mediation in civil wars by analyzing the complex bargaining dynamics between warring parties and external mediators. Timothy D. Sisk, a professor of international and comparative politics, utilizes a framework of rational choice and bargaining theory to examine how peace processes are initiated and sustained. By evaluating the structural constraints of civil conflicts, the author argues that successful mediation requires a strategic alignment of incentives and the credible application of leverage to move combatants from the battlefield to the negotiating table.

Experts in the field of conflict resolution frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the practical limitations of international intervention. Readers often note the academic rigor of the prose, which balances theoretical bargaining models with detailed historical analysis of specific regional conflicts.